Economy, Good for knifemakers?

RogerP said:
Funny how you don't seem to acknowledge that I a) stated that the quote was exerpted and b) provide a link not only to the entire post, but to the entire thread chock full of your posts.

Oh - and the search feature allows you to find key words from titles of threads. Searching for "lesser" in the title brought up that thread right quick. Poring over two years worth of your posts is not something I am up for.



Then you didn't read the whole thread.



All of those guys are or recently were newer / lesser-known makers. And yes, they are good guys turning out quality knives and solid values. Which is rather my point. Since when does the term "newer , lesser known" apply excleusively to "dabblers" or "hobbyists"? Fisk was a newer / lesser-known maker once. I sure as heck had never heard of him before when I bought an Arkansas camp knife from him back in 1989.


Perhaps once, but Jerry wasn't a newer/lesser known maker in 1989 as that was his first year as a Mastersmith.

I define a dabbler/hobbyist as a maker who makes knives for pleasure and perhaps sells a few, but does not really take making knives that serious. He/she is creative and though making knives today, could very well be making something else tomorrow. And there's of course nothing wrong with that.
Many newer or lessor known makers are individuals who are extremely serious about making knives. Both Kyle and Phillip would be perfect examples of this.
The point of my post was that I take my knife collecting very serious, thus reserve my collection purchases for knife makers that also take it very serious.

Someone in a recent thread described you as a politician. I think that was apt.
STeven said that jokingly, as I'm obviously not a politician. However you are obviously a lawyer and I expect a very good one judging by your knack for digging up any scrap of information to take out of context and twist to support your views.

Roger
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I admit I may push the envelope at times in stating views/opinions that are far from mainstream. These views may bother some though that's not my intention. My purpose is to introduce thought provoking and productive discussion (which your and my back & forth is definitely not) and to ask provocative questions in my threads. I hope we benefit from this.

In hopes of getting this thread back to productive discussion, I will not respond to you any further. So have your last word which always seems to be SO important to you and take your best shot. :)
 
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A.G.,
I'm one of your biggest fans. I love the stuff that you put out. One question though, why are there no S30V knives in your catalogue?

Since your going to be looking for something different let me describe my ideal knife that no one has designed yet.

The "Tactical Hunter". Drop point, flat ground, S30V, 3.5-4" fixed blade, plain edge, blade finish optional, lanyard hole, synthetic furniture, synthetic (preferably kydex) sheath, $100<.

If you made this knife I bet they would fly off your shelves.
 
mhw0001 said:
A.G.,
I'm one of your biggest fans. I love the stuff that you put out. One question though, why are there no S30V knives in your catalogue?

Since your going to be looking for something different let me describe my ideal knife that no one has designed yet.

The "Tactical Hunter". Drop point, flat ground, S30V, 3.5-4" fixed blade, plain edge, blade finish optional, lanyard hole, synthetic furniture, synthetic (preferably kydex) sheath, $100<.

If you made this knife I bet they would fly off your shelves.
Click to expand...

Just my opinion and not to steer the topic away from the focus of this thread but S30V is not really a 'pretty' steel to behold and I can't imagine it on some of just the fine knives I'm looking at here currently in one of A.G's catalogs. Most of the time the only finish option is bead blasted for S30V because trying something else just looks like crap after a lot of time. I haven't seen any brought to a nice high finish like mirror polished or even a higher good looking satin finish. In a high art knife I think 440C or ATS34 or even the Stamascus and carbon damascus blades are just as beautiful as any other part of the folder where a bead blasted blade whether it be ATS or something else would take away from that presentation if that makes any sense. Bead blasted is my favorite finish don't get me wrong but I make bare bones get after users. From what I see in A.G.'s catalog with some of these beauties I just don't think S30V would compliment it much in the way of eye appeal. Again though its just my opinion. I mean it looks fine on a Strider but a William & Henry??

One person said that how successful we feel we are and how successful we really are is all a matter of opinion. It was something like that anyway and in another similar topic thread I posted in. It is a very good point and worth bringing up again. It is very subjective as to how one hobbyist or borderline hobbyist/part time maker may feel suddenly swamped with 50 orders and say he is extremely busy and 5 months out while a maker used to making 200 or more knives a year has the same amount on order at around 50 and feels like he is suffering and behind.

I think that is an excellent perspective and worth considering. I forget who posted the thought but its very much an accurate one.

STR
 
mhw0001 said:
A.G.,
I'm one of your biggest fans. I love the stuff that you put out. One question though, why are there no S30V knives in your catalogue?

Since your going to be looking for something different let me describe my ideal knife that no one has designed yet.

The "Tactical Hunter". Drop point, flat ground, S30V, 3.5-4" fixed blade, plain edge, blade finish optional, lanyard hole, synthetic furniture, synthetic (preferably kydex) sheath, $100<.

If you made this knife I bet they would fly off your shelves.
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My inventory is filled with 154 CM and CPM 154 and DM1 ( a great hi carbon)

when I next need to buy steel I may buy some S30V Til' then what you get is what we got. Hang on, this too shall pass.
 
So far business is great. It dropped off a bit the end of last year but is coming back. I had a great year in 2008 making and selling 250 to 300 knives ( I lost count) I hope this year will bring the same.
Scott
 
I try not to watch the news too much concerning the economy because it stresses me out. I just know that every knife we make sells before its made, I have nothing in stock and orders are up,but more importantly SALES are up from last year at this same time. I track our sales, profit margins, popular models and sales trends from year to year. This year has been thus far our best year since we went full time five years ago. We have however, changed our business model somewhat, diversifying our lineup, aggressively pursuing markets that we feel are secure like our military contracts, developed a lineup of Mid-tech knives, expanded our shop, hired an apprentice to increase overall output, and brought as much of our production in house as possible. we have made other changes as well, all in reaction to market changes....I hope we made the right decisions, and ultimately sales are the deciding factor in that analysis, and so far....sales are GREAT!! I am thankful.

Tanya Begg
 
Begg Knives, in business as in evolution = Adapt or Die.

Good on ya!

Coop
 
SharpByCoop said:
Begg Knives, in business as in evolution = Adapt or Die.

Good on ya!

Coop
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Remember that in evolution, you must already be expressing the trait which is a competative advantage, prior to the change in the environment, thereby permitting survival and species propagation. "Adapting" is probably a misnomer when discussing both biology and business. Darwin's theory of evolution describes "survival of the fittest", not survival of the adaptable.

I think the business cliche of "the customer is always right", will have a profound impact in these difficult economic times. Maintaining ones client base is critical in all phases of the economy, not just a nasty recession.;)
 
marcangel said:
Darwin's theory of evolution describes "survival of the fittest", not survival of the adaptable
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I think what Darwin really meant to say, but it was accidentally misspelled in his first publication, was "survival of the fattest" because we all know that in a crisis situation fat people can go a lot longer without food than skinny people. :D
 
Hi Severed,

Remember Nancy Pelosi, who while attending Obama's plea for congress to pass the "Porkulus Bill" was interviewed and was quoted as saying "we have to pass this bill....as we have 25 MILLION people each month losing their job."....Yes..She said that.

At that rate, every man woman and child in the US will be out of a job before the end of the year.

What isn't amazing is that she said that...what is amazing is that press reported it.

What all the gloom and doom news does not tell you is that you need to compare job loss compared to years previous. Every August 100,000's of thousands of jobs are lost across the country...why? The High School and College kids go back to school. Every January 100,000's of thousands of jobs are lost the country...why? Because the Holiday shopping season is over and those jobs disappear.

Always look past what the news reports and dig deeper. You can fill volumes with what the press does not report.
 
RWS said:
I think what Darwin really meant to say, but it was accidentally misspelled in his first publication, was "survival of the fattest" because we all know that in a crisis situation fat people can go a lot longer without food than skinny people. :D
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I read 'Lord of the Flies'. Remember- Piggy died!:)
Maybe what Darwin really meant was "survival of the most opportunistic";)
 
RWS, you not callin me fat are you? ;):D

Been talking to Cliff Parker today about the NY show and shows in general.
From his report and others, looks like shows have been very slow in the last 5 or 6
months. Lot of good knives left on tables at the end. My last show was Chicago, Sept 08
and it was Slow!

Going to be a rough ride for a while and we will lose some makers and dealers before this
is over. But makers who work hard and promote will do just fine.
 
RogerP said:
Funny how you don't seem to acknowledge that I a) stated that the quote was exerpted and b) provide a link not only to the entire post, but to the entire thread chock full of your posts.

Oh - and the search feature allows you to find key words from titles of threads. Searching for "lesser" in the title brought up that thread right quick. Poring over two years worth of your posts is not something I am up for.



Then you didn't read the whole thread.



All of those guys are or recently were newer / lesser-known makers. And yes, they are good guys turning out quality knives and solid values. Which is rather my point. Since when does the term "newer , lesser known" apply excleusively to "dabblers" or "hobbyists"? Fisk was a newer / lesser-known maker once. I sure as heck had never heard of him before when I bought an Arkansas camp knife from him back in 1989.



Someone in a recent thread described you as a politician. I think that was apt.

Roger
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Roger, stop the insanity. Kevin simply loves to see his words in perpetuity online. Spend enough money and you too can be a bona-fide, qualified and certified knife expert.
LOL
 
Bladeandbarrel said:
Roger, stop the insanity. Kevin simply loves to see his words in perpetuity online. Spend enough money and you too can be a bona-fide, qualified and certified knife expert.
LOL
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A few of you old timers just can't stand to have a new guy question the status quo, get a little print and try to progress things a little? I guess new collectors are fine with you as long as kept in their place.
Pretty sad actually.

Never said or implied I was an expert. I have always gone out of my way to state I was a new comer and credited those who have taught me the little I do know. As a matter of fact, both times I have been interviewed by the knife media I qualified myself in their first question as a relatively new collector.

And Anthony, not that what I spend is any of your business, but I don't have a tremendous capitol outlay in my collection. I only keep 25-30 customs at a time as I only buy what I have room to display and my collection has been built to an extend from buying and selling.

I'm planning on being around a while though, so just as well get use to it.

And just to be clear, though I'm sure most of you know, AG is not one of the few I'm speaking of.
 
Kevin, all you do is question the status quo. To the point that all we get are questions. you answer direct quotations of your own contradiction with more questions. I am convinced you are in love with your self. That's called narcissism. Its tiring. its very common on internet forums.
 
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